Yes, the Bucks won by forty-four, but it would prove foolish to count on a gluttony of turnovers next week. OSU's pass defense in the 1H was borderline terrible, and running lanes only opened up after the outcome was no longer in doubt. Smith looked better, and Wells didn't cough one up (though Pittman did). Well, we're there, the best player in OSU history versus the best team in Michigan history. Nauseating last week, brighter this week. With the utter collapse of Auburn and near flop of Florida, the possibility of a rematch looms. Unless USC or FLA can run the table, a rematch is very likely. MICH is #1 with the computers, OSU in the polls; a loss by either team (assuming a close game) puts them no lower than #4 and possibly #3. Glad The Game is in Columbus... been waiting for this team to get exposed all year, one last hurdle. Gone from OSU 28-20 to MICH 17-7, final prediction of MICH 21-17, just don't think the line is good enough and Hart (140 yards) should control the game. Michigan has not lost three straight to OSU since 1963, OSU has not won three straight in Columbus since 1974. Carr cannot fall to 1-5, a complete reversal of 1995-00. Three straight outstanding performances from #10 in The Game? Asking a bit much.

Good wins by both teams this week. As I said last week, you both needed that near loss to wake you up and get you back in the business state of mind.

Speaking of looking forward and not focusing, how many times have you heard a Bucks fan or Big Blue fan say that this is a preview of a rematch for the title. How about take care of business next week and give the country a great game to watch instead of worrying about a rematch?

I wouldn't dare call what UofF did tonight a near flop. Outside of Michigan and OSU, you don't really have SEC quality opponents in the conference this year. So who knows who of the top two would have a "near flop" if you had to play a meat-grinder schedule.

Again though, great wins today, both of you and I'm looking forward to next week's game

FLA won by one point, at home, to a team struggling to make a decent bowl. Yeah, I would call it a "near-flop," FLA is proving to be overrated. These aren't the 1995-96 Gators, nor even the 2001 edition--their last great team. Given AUB's two humiliations on the Plains, FLA's loss there no longer qualifies as a "good" one. We'll see if they can win at the Doak and defeat ARK in Atlanta. If so, they deserve a title shot, unless MICH loses by a FG or USC wins out. OSU won at Austin, MICH at South Bend, neither team has lost since those September debacles; FLA gets great credit for win at Neyland, yet Tennessee is no longer in the picture. Bottom line: you're supposed to thoroughly wipe inferior teams out at home if you're a real contender (and win all home games regardless). FLA failed to do that, and their supreme defense appeared quite vulnerable in the latter stages. In point of fact, calling OSU's 17-10 win over ILL a "near loss" is something I wouldn't dare do.

OSU22UM6: That's some fucking SWEET magical thinking there. To paraphrase: Since Smith's been great on so many important occasions, he's not likely to be great again. You go ahead and think that way all you want; the soul-crushing will be all that much sweeter.

I'm guessing that both teams will be able to more or less contain the other's running game, meaning it'll come down to QB/WR play. (note: it's always possible that special teams play will be decisive, but I think both teams are too well coached and solid in that aspect of the game to predict that sort of thing) If that's the case, then Jeebus help the Wolverines. 35-17, Buckeyes. Be glad you've only got this one last time to suffer from the Troy curse.

OSU22UM6 - You never heard me use the phrase "near loss" when talking about the game OSU played last week. But since y9ou lit that candle, here goes- If you have to use "near-flop" on any team, UofF against a quality USC team (that wipped tOSU twice in the Outback Bowl this deccade) or tOSU against who??? last week (Or Michigan against Ball State for that matter), I'm guessing it wouldn't be used for today's UofF game except by a delusional couch burner. Like I said, great win by both tOSU and Michigan today, but if you're looking for someone to help you pour lighter fluid on furniture, beg on someone else's doorstep.

the best part of this upcoming week will certainly not be spent reading blogs as the tOSU fans beat their hairless nuts (that's what a Buckeye is right?) trying to tell the world how AWWWWSUM they are....

Oh no sports fans-- rather, the best part of this coming week is going to be ESPN Classic's line-up---M vs. OSU all day, all night, all the time.....

I hope you're right. I'm a huge OSU fan (following games online from Romania at ungodly hours), the name refers to the one time I attended The Game ('94). Still, memories of '93, '95, and '96 (to a lesser extent '97, '03) are seared into the conscious. A win next week ends a lot of streaks, and more importantly, places OSU ahead of UM in the rivalry for the first time since the mid-1970s.

HOW could we POSSIBLY pull the starters and let tOSU win by a larger margin than we did?? Lloyd Carr is an idiot and must be fired immediately! PLUS, the world is ending, the sky is falling, and life is over!Oh, we're not doing that this week? That was only for last week's spoiled ass cry-baby so-called Michigan fans??? Huh.. Seems they're quiet this week for some reason.Michigan once again did what they needed to do - WIN! Win one more and we're in the best spot possible! So shut up, unless you plan to cheer!!! GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!I'll say what I said last week... A win is a win and style points don't matter!

Yes, Holtz beat them twice, but those teams were an aggregate 15-7, a far cry from the last two years or even since 2002. Furthermore, OSU has NEVER beaten an SEC school not named Vandy or UK, no matter the coach or the year. I only quoted your words from today, I admit, I don't remember what you said last week. In recent years, though, OSU has become a faster team, not quite as fast as FLA or LSU, but close. Still, OSU fans should look forward to SEC opponents the way Democrats should look forward to open presidential elections (3-12 since 1856), no matter what changes, things seem to remain the same. Hell, I wanted Louisville in Glendale, as did most UM fans I'll wager.

I've been saying it since they beat Auburn up and now it's pretty obvious...Arkansas is the best one loss team in the country, hands down. Too bad there's such a thing as preseason polls or they'd be cruising toward the BCS title game...

I'm always anxious during Michigan-Ohio State week, but this is going to be as hard a week of work as I've had in a LONG time. I'll probably spend as much time as possible scouring the Internet to read "experts" opinions of the upcoming game because that'll be all I'll be thinking about ...

And please, let's quit the lame predictions. It's so difficult to predict the UM-tOSU game ... both teams have been keeping things hidden all season long so I'm sure we'll see some different looks all around ... just makes it even more exciting!

As a college football fan from SEC country (though not necessarily an SEC fan), I just wanted to congratulate all Wolverine and Buckeye fans for their wins today. Next Saturday should be a hell of a treat! What more could you possibly ask for???

Anyone else wonder how 4 of the top 10 BCS lost this week? Texas, Cal, Auburn and Louisville. Crazy, just freakin crazy. New standings will be interesting. Anyways, Go Blue beat the Horsechestnuts (yes, buckeyes are actually Horsechestnuts...do a google image search).

hot rumour...lloyd carr retires after a perfect season & undisputed national championship (possibly having beaten osu in his last two games) and hands the reins over to superstar, rising-stock defensive coordinator ron english whose teams will never give up more than 30 yards rushing again...ever*

For as much grief as Herbie took for calling Breaston worthless... Herbie sure did bite his tongue this morning on Gameday.

Desmond Howard said he wasn't casting a vote for the Heismann this year because there isn’t any stand-out players (his words not mine).

So when Howard got done with his barely coherent explanation, Herbie challenged Desmond and said rather forcefully, "there's not one player in all of football that you'd vote for this year"... when Desmond said no, Herbie turned his head to face the camera and literally bit his lip as they went to commercial.

Listen, I understand that the terms "redneck" and "white trash" originated in C-bus... and for the most part, if one cannot get accepted to college, there’s always tOSU... but Howard was such a blatant homer on national TV this morning that I felt embarrassed for him. And I guess a bit of kudos is in order for Herbie keeping it together.

Long time Buckeye fan. Old fart Buckeye Alum. Long time UM hater. Never liked that UM had such a cool nickname (Wolverine is a cool nickname). Never liked that they had cool uniforms.

We Buckeye fans are obsessed with UM. We're not afraid to admit it. I never liked it when UM fans would say "Ohio State? They're not our rivals. We couldn't care less about them. Our rivals are MSU." The rest of the country never gave a rats ass about UM v MSU. The entire nation looked forward to UM v OSU but still UM fans would say this, "Ohio State? They're not our rivals. We couldn't care less about them. Our rivals are MSU."

It's good to see UM fans finally admit that the OSU game is THE GAME. And even though I hate UM and root against them every week, I am proud of them this one time.

i was at the game -- michigan fans were louder than IU fans + band. Saw a jackass ohio state chick with her face painted in os-douche colors with the buckeye necklace. She was going nuts.. i told her she had a buckstache and her response was: "I just got my lip waxed yesterday" GO BLUE!

Word from Buckeye camp is that they are gonna start ginn on both sides of the ball and use him as a corner against manningham on defense... I say bring it on... what do you guys think?? Can't wait to see the buckeyes go down this weekend!!GO BLUE!!!

I live in the Detroit metro area. Michigan has serious economic issues and only when the people pull together can the problems be overcome. It’s going to take everyone not just democrat or republican A great place to find out Michigan and Detroit is MICHIGAN AND DETROIT

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